Table assembly

ABSTRACT

An assembly for tables or carts in which longitudinal stretcher members which interconnect the vertical legs are formed to receive the margins of a shelf, the transverse stretchers are grooved to receive the end edges of the shelf, the stretchers are interconnected in a manner to prevent rotation or loss of support for the shelf, and key elements lock the legs and stretchers together to provide a substantially rigid assembly.

United States Patent inventors Lowell'E. Adair St. Louis; Walter Gusdorf, Creve Coeur, both of, Mo. Appl. No. 41,817 Filed June 1, 1970 Patented Aug. 17, 19 71 Assignee Gusdori & Sons, Inc.

- St. Louis, Mo.

TABLE ASSEMBLY 6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 108/153,

108/1 11, 211/148 Int. Cl A47b 3/06 Field of Search 108/ 101,

111, 153-155, l57;21l/l34, 135,148, 177

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,969,882 l/l961 Hamilton 108/11 3,016.650 l/l962 Magers 211/135x FOREIGN PATENTS 175,817 3/1922 GreatBritain 108/111 Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell AttarneyG ravely, Lieder 8L Woodruff ABSTRACT: An assembly for tables or carts in which longitudinal stretcher members which interconnect the vertical legs are formed to receive the margins of a shelf, the transverse stretchers are grooved to receive the end edges of the shelf, the stretchers are interconnected in a manner to prevent rotation or loss of support for the shelf, and key elements lock the legs and stretchers together to provide a substantially rigid assembly.

TABLE ASSEMBLY BRIEF SUMMARY OF TI-IE-INVENT ION This invention relates to improvements in securing a loadcarrying shelf of a table or cart in position to prevent it from sagging or pulling out of its intended position.

In the art of constructing table components for ease of home assembly by a purchaser it has been a problem of making the various components in a manner to fit together securely and easily. Home assembled tables or carts have great utility in conserving shipping source as the bulk of a ready assembled table is avoided. However, the typical knockdown table assembly has proved somewhat of a problem to assemble correctly when in the hands of the average purchaser. Ac-

cordingly, there is and has been a great need for a simple construction that lends itself to home assembly with ease of fit and reliability of use under the character of loads usually imposed thereon. This situation is especially critical of shelf assemblies for such tables or carts, and especially for mobile carts which are moved about when loaded with books, TV sets and other objects of a decorative nature.

The general object of this invention is to provide a knockdown table or cart with components for supporting a shelf such that the shelf is securely carried at its margins and edges. A preferred embodiment includes longitudinal and transverse shelf supporting stretchers which interengage, and key elements which connect the stretchers to the vertical legs and lock the stretchers to each other in a simple and reliable manner. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile cart of a character suitable for supporting a TV set and in which a shelf board is provided for supporting magazines and decorative bric-a-brac objects:

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary plan view of the shelf assembly incorporated in the cart of FIG. 1, the view being taken along line 2-2 therein;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a typical joint assembly taken at line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the joint assembly taken at line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSEMBLY In the drawing the cart 5 is composed of a pair of tubular U- shaped leg forms 6 connected in spaced relation by stretchers 7 and 8 having threaded elements (not shown) extending from the opposite ends to pass through the leg forms so cap nuts 9 may be used to secure the same.

The lower portion of the cart 5 between the leg forms 6 is provided with a shelf 10 having longitudinal side edges 11 (FIG.. 2) engaged in elongated slots 12 formed in the longitudinal stretchers 13 that extend between the leg forms 6. Thus the opposite long sides 11 of the shelf 10 are supported throughout in the slots 12. The short sides or end edges of the shelf 10 are supported in channel-shaped stretchers 14 having the web 14A thereof directed vertically and the flanges turned to face inward to form a full length slot to support the shelf.

The shelf 10, stretchers 13 and stretchers l4 fit together such that the opposite ends of the stretchers 14 extend beyond the shelf edges 11 so as to provide a suitable end length to enter sockets 15 formed in the stretchers l3 at the locations desired for the shelf size. Each stretcher 13 has a pair of such sockets 15 directed to open into the slots 12 and besubstantially in the diameter of the stretcher 13 (FIG. 4).

tachment screw 17 which has a tapered end 17A to engage a preformed aperture in the web 14A of the short stretchers 14. The aperture is located in the web 14A to be substantially aligned with the screw end 17a which penetrates the socket 15. The screws 17, while not having to be threaded through the bores 16, enter a preformed aperture in web 14A so that the stretchers 13 and 14, shelf 10, and legs 18 are all secured The manner of securing the components is by forming axial in assembly. The penetration of the ends of stretchers 14 into the respective sockets 15 is such that it passes the central axis of the stretchers 13. In this way, the stretchers 13 are prevented from rotating about the axes thereof to dump the long sides 11 of the shelf 10 out of the slots 12. Concurrently, the screws 17 draw the short stretchers 14 against a wall of the sockets 15 and hold these stretchers against rotation.

A cart of the character disclosed does not need to be factory assembled. The purchaser is able with a simple screwdriver to make the assembly. The preferred procedure to follow is to locate a long stretcher 13 relative to an opposed pair of legs 18 of the leg forms 6 by loosely inserting the screws 17 in bores 16. Next the shelf 10 is provided with channels 14 over its short edges and the long side 11 is then fitted into the slot 12 of the first stretcher 13. It is important to make sure the ends of the channels 14 penetrate the sockets 15 in the first selected stretcher 13. The second stretcher 13 is then moved into position with the channels 14 in the sockets 15 so the final long edge 11 of the shelf 10 will seat in the slot 12. The screws 17 are inserted and all screws are tightened up to lock the channel stretchers 14 in the sockets 15 and to draw the legs 18 tight against the ends of stretchers 13.

It should now be clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment that the improvement in the shelf assembly is directed to providing a first pair of elongated support members engaged along the first pair of opposed edges of the shelf, providing a second pair of elongated support members engaged along a second pair of opposed edges of the shelf and having end portions projecting therebeyond, providing sockets formed in the first pair of support members spaced apart by the required dimensions of the shelf to receive the projecting end portions of the second pair of support members, and providing means carried by the first pair of support members to locate the end portions of the second pair of support members in the sockets, whereby to retain the first and second pairs of support members engaged along the opposed edges of the shelf. Such an improved assembly for a shelf is adapted to have utility in connection with a table or a cart .wherein the vertical legs provide the means to locate the first and second support members around the edges of a shelf.

It should be understood further that variations from the disclosure of a preferred form of the invention may be suggested to those skilled in the art and it is the object to include all relevant variations within the spirit of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a shelf assembly, the improvement with the shelf having first and second opposed edges; of a first pair of elongated support members engaged along a first pair of opposed edges of the shelf, a second pair of elongated support members engaged along a second pair of opposed edges of the shelf and having end portions projecting therebeyond, sockets formed in said first pair of support members to receive the end portions of said second pair of support members, and means carried by said first pair of support members locking said end portions of said second pair of support members in said sockets, thereby retaining said first and second support members engaged along the opposed edges of the shelf.

2. The improvement in the assembly of claim 1 wherein said sockets extend traversely of and across the elongated axes of said first members, and said end portions of said second support members project beyond the second pair of opposed edges substantially the full extent of said sockets.

3. The improvement in the assembly of claim 1 and including legs adjacent the ends of said first pair of support members and apertures in said legs to receive said locking means whereby said shelf is supported from said legs.

4. The improvement in the assembly of claim 1 wherein said first pair of support members have axially directed bores to sides, first stretchers each extending between a pair of leg receive said locking means, and said bores and sockets open to each other.

5. The improvement in the assembly of claim 4 wherein said locking means slides through said axially directed bores and engages with said end portions of said second pair of support members received in said sockets.

6. In a table assembly having vertical leg members, the improvement ofa shelf member having first and second opposed 

1. In a shelf assembly, the improvement with the shelf having first and second opposed edges; of a first pair of elongated suppOrt members engaged along a first pair of opposed edges of the shelf, a second pair of elongated support members engaged along a second pair of opposed edges of the shelf and having end portions projecting therebeyond, sockets formed in said first pair of support members to receive the end portions of said second pair of support members, and means carried by said first pair of support members locking said end portions of said second pair of support members in said sockets, thereby retaining said first and second support members engaged along the opposed edges of the shelf.
 2. The improvement in the assembly of claim 1 wherein said sockets extend traversely of and across the elongated axes of said first members, and said end portions of said second support members project beyond the second pair of opposed edges substantially the full extent of said sockets.
 3. The improvement in the assembly of claim 1 and including legs adjacent the ends of said first pair of support members and apertures in said legs to receive said locking means whereby said shelf is supported from said legs.
 4. The improvement in the assembly of claim 1 wherein said first pair of support members have axially directed bores to receive said locking means, and said bores and sockets open to each other.
 5. The improvement in the assembly of claim 4 wherein said locking means slides through said axially directed bores and engages with said end portions of said second pair of support members received in said sockets.
 6. In a table assembly having vertical leg members, the improvement of a shelf member having first and second opposed sides, first stretchers each extending between a pair of leg members and formed with elongated slots and spaced sockets, second stretchers each extending between said first stretchers with opposed end portions thereof engaged in said sockets, said second stretchers having elongated slots therein, said shelf member having its opposed sides supported in said elongated slots of said first and second stretchers, and means securing said opposed end portions of said second stretchers in the sockets of said first stretchers. 